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Is buying a new video card even worth it? Is that even what I need?


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#1
kittiez

kittiez

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I have a laptop. This laptop is two years old and has served me well, but recently when playing games like Vindictus and Final Fantasy I've discovered that it's just not good enough.

It's a gaming laptop. I realize a desktop would have been a better idea, but I love the ability to move around.... I'd like to know what I should upgrade or if I even can upgrade anything in this laptop without complications.

What I'd like this laptop to do: Run FFXIV flawlessly. The recommended system requirements are:

Operating System Windows 7 32-bit / 64-bit *
Processor Intel® Core™ i7 (2.66 GHz) or faster
Memory 4 GB or more
Storage Install: 15 GB or more
Download: 6 GB or more
Video NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460 with 768 MB VRAM or equivalent
Sound DirectSound® compatible sound card (DirectX® 9.0c or higher)


My laptop's specs are (which apparently are nowhere near that as I scored an ABYSMAL 200 on their benchmark test):

------------------
System Information
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Time of this report: 9/13/2010, 09:30:54
Machine name: NAOMI-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Pavilion dv9700 Notebook PC
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU T8300 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 3072MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 1506MB used, 4632MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8400M GS
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0427&SUBSYS_30CC103C&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1518 MB
Dedicated Memory: 239 MB
Shared Memory: 1279 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: SEC344B
Native Mode: 1440 x 900(p) (60.002Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0011.9716 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.11.9716
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/16/2010 20:01:53, 11913832 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes


I have tried VERY hard and researched a lot, but my brain repeatedly fries. I feel stupid honestly trying to figure out all of this computer stuff. I just can't do it. So instead I've decided to post on here and hope that someone can recommend what I should purchase. If it's not possible, I'll keep researching, but... It would help a lot. I don't know if I should try to upgrade this laptop or if I should just save up for a new one.

Full dxdiag included just in case I didn't include something you need to know. Attached File  full64bitdxdiag.txt   39.07KB   260 downloads

Edited by kittiez, 13 September 2010 - 07:35 AM.

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#2
Neil Jones

Neil Jones

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Upgrade ability on laptops is, realistically, not going to happen. The only upgradable parts on a laptop will be the hard drive, the memory and sometimes the DVD drive. Nothing else is realistically upgradable.

Having looked at some forums I will be very surprised if that laptop will run it, considering it seems to have occasional issues on desktop machines.
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